Pumpkin Cheese Praline Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, then brush pan with softened butter.

Prepare pumpkin batter: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking powder and baking soda for about 30 seconds until evenly combined.

Add butter, eggs and pumpkin. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth. Scrape bowl with a rubber spatula.

Add flour all at once. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, until flour is evenly blended in. Pour half the pumpkin batter into prepared pan. Reserve other half in a small bowl, scraping mixing bowl well.

Using the same mixing bowl, prepare cream cheese batter: Beat cream cheese, egg and vanilla on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until fluffy and smooth. Add sugar and beat on medium speed for about 1 minute.

Spread cream cheese batter over pumpkin batter in pan. Pour reserved pumpkin batter over cream cheese layer. Using a rubber spatula, cut through the batter several times through the length of the pan, then through the width of the pan, to create a marbled effect.

Prepare topping: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and brown sugar for 2 minutes, until fluffy and light in color. Add flour and pecans, then beat on low speed for about 1 minute. The mixture will be crumbly. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over marbled batter.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, reversing the baking pan halfway through baking time. When done, the topping will have begun to brown and the top will feel slightly firm when touched gently with your fingertip.

Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store cooled bars in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator, or wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.

cook's notes

For pumpkin batter, mix the sugar and spices with the butter until well mixed, then add the rest of the ingredients. It's not advisable to put all ingredients together and then mix.